Ronalds Kenins had an effective game for the Latvians against the Swiss at the Olympics, & didn't look out of place against Canada (my impressions from watching the games).

He was physical, willing to take/make hits to finish plays, a decent (but not great) skater, & defensively responsible. He had a few shots on Price, apparently he's improved in Swiss league scoring this year, but he's no sniper.

That team is going to have a real plethora of young guys to fill out the forward ranks, and if they can add a couple of key vets at the top of the depth chart they should be pretty darn good - on paper.

Grenier and Jensen should be back next year, Lain too, they'll likely re-sign Archibald and to those four they'll add Kenins, Shinkaruk, Gaunce, and Fox. A couple of top line AHL guys (of Pelletier's ilk) and a veteran leader like Stuart has been and that is a really solid forward group.

On their own Gaunce Fox and Lain could be an okay set of top three centres but adding a veteran on the top line would really make the middle of the ice a strength for that team. Jensen, Shinkaruk, Grenier and someone down the wings in the top six, Archie, Kenins, Mallet and a gritty vet on the bottom six.

From what I've read, I wouldn't be surprised if Mallet is waived bye-bye.

Other than that, I think you've hit the nail on the head there Dave. Next year should be an exciting year for the Comets. The team has already improved immensely as the year as progressed (so much so that they have an outside shot at the playoffs), but the team's biggest issue has remained scoring. When you add in what should be three legitimate top six guys in 2014-15, a lot of those scoring issues should go away.

Mallet's under contract next year, so he might end up in Kalamazoo (in which case take your pick - Ludwig Blomstrand, Alex Friesen, etc take his place in Utica) but I think he'll still be in the organization.

He'll have to show something though, to prove to be more than a cautionary tale about drafting guys every team in the league passed over multiple times the previous year.

Mallet had a huge year in his overage year in the Q. Prior to then he was an agitating 4th line guy. Since then, he has shown pretty clearly that he doesn't belong in the AHL. He has been a total flop in the pros. One goal and three assists in 57 games in the AHL is terrible production for any player (even an agitating 4th line guy). It looks as though he has been a healthy scratch for the Comets several times as well.

I think it's pretty safe to say he had a big season when he was 20 in the Q playing against a bunch of 17 and 18 year old kids. Once that physical advantage disappeared, so did Mallet's game.

On the plus side of things in Utica, Grenier and Archibald have been real surprises. Grenier is top 5 in rookie scoring in the AHL, and Archibald just keeps on getting better Grenier is a big skilled guy, but he needs to work on his all-around game from what I’ve read.

Archie has played at a 20 goal, 40 point pace in Utica on a team that really struggles offensively, and from what I’ve read and seen on highlights is a guy other AHL players try to avoid physically.. Archibald could play in the NHL full next year IMO.

Nicklas Jensen has made a real strong effort to resurrect his season, and has a legitimate shot at cracking 20 goals if he stays hot.

Kellan Lain seems to have transitioned to the pros pretty much flawlessly, and is actually putting up some goals which is a big surprise to me.

Peter Andersson has reportedly been very good 5 on 5 when healthy (he is an ultra-conservative defenseman – projected to perhaps be a solid bottom pairing, PK specialist kind of guy in the NHL).

Corrado has been a bit of a disappointment, but I ain’t giving up on him yet. Lots of potential in this kid.

While they were awful to start the year, our two rookie goalies in Utica have really turned things around.

RoyalDude wrote:I don't need 2-3 years to know if the Rodin's of the world will amount to a hill of beans. THEY WON'T! It ain't crystal ball rocket science. The only late round picks that may amount to jack shit are Mallet or Corrado. The rest are bums, even my boy Connauton.

RoyalDude wrote:Watched the game last night, Kassian and Schroeder looked great last night. I might have renewed faith in those two. You can see that Mallet will be and NHL'er one day, just that combination of toughness, grit and smarts, sort of like Burrows, not as quite as skilled but a lot tougher. People, we really need to stick a fork in Rodin and Sauve. Those two just ain't got what it takes. Painful. Not overly impressed with Connauton last night. Tanev is a good one, Mr. Steady Eddy, reliable, smart, heads up, sees the play real well, moves the puck well, great passer, mobile, what's not to like about Tanev. Definitely top 4 potential in the Canucks line-up down the road. Outside of Kassian, Schroeder, Tanev, Mallet, Pinizotto and Lack I do not see much to like down in Chicago. Those 6 are the only ones I see being players in the NHL. I'm really not sold on Connnauton right now. Definitely not a great team down there. It's too bad that Jensen isn't in Chicago, he's the type of player that line-up needs right now, another big bodied skilled guy. I could see him and Kassian really clicking together on a line. Impressed with Kassian's smarts. Was worried that he was another Booth bonehead, but the kid is a heads up player. Ellis is a good D-man.

RoyalDude wrote:It's really fucking lame that the most our draft picks are playing in the ECHL. I thought the AHL was a developmental league? Who the fuck are 90% of the players on the Wolves roster? Really surprise that Mallet did not get called up with Schroeder, Kassian and Ebbett being up here. What the fuck is going on down there?